The 5 best new car optional extras revealed

Most new car options are not worth anything to secondhand buyers, meaning you won’t get a penny back from your up-front spend on the used car market.

There are, however, a couple of options that are worth having, says Glass’s director of valuations Rupert Pontin. He’s thus revealed his five must-haves if you don’t want to lose all your option outlay when you sell your car.

The five optional extras worth having

1: Sat nav

Rapidly being seen as almost an essential feature on any premium car, says Pontin, and increasingly for vehicles below. If your luxury car has a basic system as standard, the optional upgraded sat-nav with bigger screen and better mapping will add value.

2: Bigger alloy wheels

Wheels have the biggest visual impact on a car after colour, says Pontin. Bigger wheels improve the forecourt appeal of every vehicle.

3: Panoramic roof

A definite plus point, reckons Pontin: it both looks more appealing and adds extra light into the cabin that boosts everyday driving.

4: Bluetooth / car integration

Systems such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are essential for younger buyers who consider controlling their smartphone while on the move a deal maker (or breaker). “The better the phone integration, the faster the sale.”

5: Air conditioning / climate control

Very few cars are sold without air con these days, says Pontin: it’s very difficult to sell cars without it. “At the upper end of the market, having climate control rather than bog-standard air con is important.”

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